I'm Back
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From: Walker Basin, CA
I'm Back
Well, that was a trip. Left Thursday morning with the weatherman promising fair weather.. He lied. The ride on Thursday was uneventful, just cold and the clouds were ominously black and pregnant with moisture. Thoughts of the comfort of a cage were infiltrating my brain, but the throaty sounds of the Road King lifted my spirits and we pressed on.
The sun climbed higher in the eastern sky and the mercury rose with it. Lunch in Bishop was at the Railroad Museum at Laws. Warm but windy. The tail wind pushed us as we climbed Sherwin Summit and topped out at 7,000 feet. Spots of snow were still hiding in the shadows of stately pine trees that lined the four lane. Damn cinders from sanding the ice on the road in the previous days were being kicked up by cages as I sped north for four days in Carson City, Nevada. The further north I traveled, the lighter traffic got and soon there was not a car in sight.
Conway Summit, Devil's Gate and Deadman's Summit are all above 8,000 feet, but the temps were still in the high 40's as we roared northward. After topping the last summit, the highway follows the Walker River and crosses the state line at the beautiful border lake named Lake Topaz. Temperatures were warming as we descended into the beautiful desert basin called the Carson Valley. The heavy clothing we wore protected us against the wind and cold and we were comfortable the entire trip.
Temperatures were in the low 40's as I pulled into the motel parking lot about 4:30. We checked in and headed back to Gardnerville for dinner at an exquisite Basque restaurant named J T's. Great food and a wonderful, friendly atmosphere. I heartily recommend it if you are ever in the area.
Thursday meant a trip to Virginia City, Nevada. Virginia City was the center of the Comstock Lode, the largest silver strike in the world. The town still has many of the old buildings and some of the original 100 saloons are still in operation. Stopped in a leather shop and bought a nice riding jacket for $20.00 tax included. It was ON SALE! (Pictures will follow.)
We had a picnic lunch in the park and headed up the hill to the cemetery. We had just walked through the gate when I felt an icy cold blast of air blowing up under my jacket. No it wasn't ghosts, but the real wind and it was blowing SNOW! Quick, back to the ride and bundle up for the ride down to Carson City. The weather held off for a while as we wended our way through the canyon toward Carson City. The sun was dropping below the horizon in a blaze of gold coruscating in resplendent beams through red clouds. Soon the dazzling radiance of gold transformed into shades of vermilion that waned into shimmering purple, then darkened into deep blue as the first glittering lights of Carson City appeared. Soon the sooty blackness of night enveloped us with the bright headlight of the Road King piercing that inky grip and guiding us on down the highway.
Soon we were sitting in the motel room, sipping a beverage and planning dinner. We walked a few doors down the road and had Chinese dinner in a Hunan Chinese Restaurant. Great food, good service and a delightful time. We hit the bed early because we had a full day of touring planned.
Ah, it's morning. Coffee and SNOW! It snowed last night and there is an inch in the parking lot! This was supposed to be a spring ride.
Oh well. By 10:30 the sun had come out and the snow had melted. Temperatures were climbing. Rode up the Carson City HD and did the usual shopping thing. Headed to the Nevada State Railroad Museum, the Carson City Mint (now a museum) and the Nevada State Museum. Too cold to do any long distance riding.
Sunday morning, today, the weatherman promised fair skies and warm winds for the ride home. Headed south with the sun shining and the highway dry. Temps were in the 40's til we descended off Sherwin Summit and welcomed the warmth of the high desert at Bishop. A great
The sun climbed higher in the eastern sky and the mercury rose with it. Lunch in Bishop was at the Railroad Museum at Laws. Warm but windy. The tail wind pushed us as we climbed Sherwin Summit and topped out at 7,000 feet. Spots of snow were still hiding in the shadows of stately pine trees that lined the four lane. Damn cinders from sanding the ice on the road in the previous days were being kicked up by cages as I sped north for four days in Carson City, Nevada. The further north I traveled, the lighter traffic got and soon there was not a car in sight.
Conway Summit, Devil's Gate and Deadman's Summit are all above 8,000 feet, but the temps were still in the high 40's as we roared northward. After topping the last summit, the highway follows the Walker River and crosses the state line at the beautiful border lake named Lake Topaz. Temperatures were warming as we descended into the beautiful desert basin called the Carson Valley. The heavy clothing we wore protected us against the wind and cold and we were comfortable the entire trip.
Temperatures were in the low 40's as I pulled into the motel parking lot about 4:30. We checked in and headed back to Gardnerville for dinner at an exquisite Basque restaurant named J T's. Great food and a wonderful, friendly atmosphere. I heartily recommend it if you are ever in the area.
Thursday meant a trip to Virginia City, Nevada. Virginia City was the center of the Comstock Lode, the largest silver strike in the world. The town still has many of the old buildings and some of the original 100 saloons are still in operation. Stopped in a leather shop and bought a nice riding jacket for $20.00 tax included. It was ON SALE! (Pictures will follow.)
We had a picnic lunch in the park and headed up the hill to the cemetery. We had just walked through the gate when I felt an icy cold blast of air blowing up under my jacket. No it wasn't ghosts, but the real wind and it was blowing SNOW! Quick, back to the ride and bundle up for the ride down to Carson City. The weather held off for a while as we wended our way through the canyon toward Carson City. The sun was dropping below the horizon in a blaze of gold coruscating in resplendent beams through red clouds. Soon the dazzling radiance of gold transformed into shades of vermilion that waned into shimmering purple, then darkened into deep blue as the first glittering lights of Carson City appeared. Soon the sooty blackness of night enveloped us with the bright headlight of the Road King piercing that inky grip and guiding us on down the highway.
Soon we were sitting in the motel room, sipping a beverage and planning dinner. We walked a few doors down the road and had Chinese dinner in a Hunan Chinese Restaurant. Great food, good service and a delightful time. We hit the bed early because we had a full day of touring planned.
Ah, it's morning. Coffee and SNOW! It snowed last night and there is an inch in the parking lot! This was supposed to be a spring ride.
Oh well. By 10:30 the sun had come out and the snow had melted. Temperatures were climbing. Rode up the Carson City HD and did the usual shopping thing. Headed to the Nevada State Railroad Museum, the Carson City Mint (now a museum) and the Nevada State Museum. Too cold to do any long distance riding.
Sunday morning, today, the weatherman promised fair skies and warm winds for the ride home. Headed south with the sun shining and the highway dry. Temps were in the 40's til we descended off Sherwin Summit and welcomed the warmth of the high desert at Bishop. A great
RE:My I'm Back
Welcome Back. Sounds like a great trip. Not much going on here this weekend. Lots of new members. We got a new Tech Mod in charge of the tech and DIY section, Springer_ from Big Boyz Cycles. My bikes in the shop getting the tranny checked[:@]. Tornados all around us tonight.
Have a great one.
Have a great one.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 1
From: Baghdad, Iraq
RE: I'm Back
That sounds like a beautiful ride! (cold...but beautiful) Hope it's the beginning of a great Spring for you. Keep the trip summaries coming, I dig the vicarious riding scene...
Enjoy the ride.
Enjoy the ride.
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Administrator Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,704
Likes: 252
From: Walker Basin, CA
RE: I'm Back
Howler
Patience will get you through this.
Leave the cast alone. You may be able to ride with it on, but it is the starting and stopping that can get hairy! It you hurt it again, it will be a lot longer before you can ride. (Can you say next summer?)
You will be in the wind soon enough.
Grover
Patience will get you through this.
Leave the cast alone. You may be able to ride with it on, but it is the starting and stopping that can get hairy! It you hurt it again, it will be a lot longer before you can ride. (Can you say next summer?)
You will be in the wind soon enough.
Grover
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